3.5 Stars

This was an interesting story about a married couple in their thirties who had agreed not to have children, but when Emma unexpectedly got pregnant...but then miscarried...her husband Julian realized that he did in fact want children. Emma was secretly relieved. With this backline, the story proceeds with this London based couple housesitting for a friend in Athens, Greece. Emma is happily unemployed at the moment, satisfied to drink in life, although Julian's collegiate type friends regularly query her on what she's "doing". Julian is endlessly holing up in university libraries in a quest to finish writing important papers for his academic career. One evening the couple is out dining at a bar/restaurant and an older, very confidant, sexy woman lures Julian to dance with her. Quite unexpectedly, this becomes a turn on for Emma. In a decision that becomes a critical point in their evolving marital relationship, Emma is on a quest to find a woman for her husband Julian to "get it on" with while she watches. This is the backdrop for the book with all its riveting, sensual moments and catastrophic consequences.

This was a very thought-provoking read, with clashing emotions as this marriage crossed what would be a red line for most couples.

Thank you to the publisher Random House / The Dial Press who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

Personally, did not enjoy this story. The first half of the book was promising and exciting and the second half was a mess. If I never again read a story about someone falling through a balcony railing it will be too soon. (Overdone, exhausted, etc) The characters were all so annoying (saying “i’m not going to do that” and then LITERALLY IMMEDIATELY DOING IT) and had zero redeeming qualities. Giving this 2 stars because I did highlight a few passages throughout the book. I do think this author has a lot of potential for future books. Thanks to Netgally and the publisher and author for this ARC.

This was a sexy summer book, chock full of more action than I expected!

When Emma and Julian opened their marriage while staying in Greece for a month, they never imagined the consequences. But the consequences are real, and they must figure out how to navigate something they never expected, all while trying to keep their marriage in tact.

I really really liked this book! The Greek setting was luscious and made it feel like I was there with them. The characters were complex and multi-faceted, which one would hope they would be in a book like this. I felt bad for all of them for different reasons throughout the book, and was shocked at the ending--I did not think that's how it was going to resolve!

I always love a book without a happy ending, that plays into the consequences of being reckless, so this really delivered on that.

there’s a very cerebral nature to this book that i really liked, until i didn’t. the ending was a little bit of a nothing burger, but appreciated the suspense and intrigue while we had it.

julian and emma have reached a stalemate in their marriage. they’ve come to greece to house sit for a friend and, while there, they meet lena who will quickly shake things up in their lives.
while reading, i couldn’t help but think “this is a bad idea!” about fifty times. i wanted to finish the book to know where the author was taking us but i definitely was not fully invested.
a quick read that left me feeling annoyed.

thank you to random house publishing house for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley. all opinions are my own.

Amy Taylor’s Ruins hits like a shot of ouzo on a hot Athens night. This isn’t just another relationship drama – it’s a sticky, sultry descent into desire that’ll make you squirm in your seat.

The setup is simple: Julian and Emma, a pair of well-heeled tourists, invite local woman Lena into their bed. Bad idea. Really bad idea. What follows is a masterclass in slow-burn tension as their carefully curated lives crack like ancient marble in the Mediterranean sun.

Taylor’s writing grabs you by the throat. She turns Athens into more than a backdrop – the city breathes and sweats alongside her characters, its crumbling ruins standing guard over modern ruins-in-the-making. Every scene drips with heat and tension, building toward an ending that feels both shocking and inevitable.

Let’s be clear: these aren’t particularly likable people. They’re privileged, self-absorbed, and prone to terrible decisions. But that’s exactly the point. Taylor isn’t interested in making you comfortable – she wants to make you think. About power. About desire. About the ways we destroy the things we claim to love.

Following her debut Search History, this second novel proves Taylor isn’t just a rising star in Australian literature – she’s already burning bright. Ruins is sharp, sophisticated, and sexy in all the right ways. It’s the kind of book that makes you cancel plans just to read one more chapter.

Sure, you might struggle to connect with these wealthy protagonists and their champagne problems. But if you can get past that, you’ll find a razor-sharp exploration of modern relationships that cuts deep and leaves a mark.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars – A seductive, unsettling read that proves Taylor is the real deal.

Writing this review without revealing too much of the plot is quite challenging. However, this book, contrary to my expectations, turned out to be an unexpected surprising reading experience.. And something unlike anything I’ve read before!

Emma and Julian, the main couple in the story, captivated me with their intriguing and flawed characters. It became evident early on that not everything is as it appears. Once Lena is introduced, the narrative takes a thrilling turn, leading to a wild and unpredictable ride. Lots of parts in this book really make you wonder what’s the right thing to do if you were in this situation.

While I had anticipated a more explicit and spicy storyline, the literary writing surpasses my expectations. It reminded me of my reading experience with “The Rachel Incident” a few years ago.

If you’re seeking a captivating plot with subtle twists and turns, this is a good one!

The blurb got me!

But overall struggled with the execution of this one. Shallow characters. Too much in spots; not enough in another spot. Veryyy slow burn.

I have been putting off this review because I kept thinking I might find something positive to say about this book. However, I was unsuccessful. Simply put, I.did.not.like.this.book. The characters were shallow, vapid and narcissistic. They were completely careless with another person's life, wondering only how their complicated relationships with her would affect and potentially ruin their lives.

The plot was slow for the first two thirds of the book. Things got interesting, then we’re resolved too quickly. The last part was a discourse on how they moved on to new lives. What a terrible commentary on Western cultural values.

I can't believe they are making a movie out of this book. Probably all the sex (; which will be much more graphic than described in the book) made it salable.

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Did not like this. It was readable and I was too far in once I realized what was going to happen and I just wanted to finish. The first part of the book is fun and somewhat interesting with the relationship dynamics of Julian and Emma but it very quickly devolves into something else and it just felt so pointless by the end. The characters were hollow and everything that happened to them was just bizarre.

Emma and Julian are spending the summer in Athens, house-sitting. Emma quit her successful, yet unfulfilling job, while trust fund baby Julian struggles to find his path writing. Their marriage is unraveling at the seams, until Emma finds herself drawn to the thought of watching Julian with another woman. Enter Lena, a local twenty-something, eager to become part of the plan. Everything is going great until it’s time to stop. Emma and Julian agree it’s time, but Lena does not. Lena has some secrets, & her nefarious brother, Darius, will do anything to get what he wants.

Ruins is an aptly chosen title for this novel, nodding to the history of Greece, as well as how a few bad decisions can leave the lives of many in “ruins”. The story was well written, yet felt kind of predictable. I enjoyed the descriptive nature of Amy Taylor’s writing, feeling like I could picture myself in the shadows of Emma’s path. I found the thriller part of the story addictive, and found the conclusion to be satisfying… enough. But that’s life, isn’t it? Some things just end the way they do, without greater meaning or impact. I Amy Taylor did a great job reminding us all that life doesn’t always wrap things up in a silk bow. Sometimes our stories wrap with twine from the local fish market, and we get on with life.

3.5 / 5 stars

I just finished reading this book. The plot was absolutely fantastic! It was quite the page turner, and I could not put the book down once I began reading it. I can't wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

I was not a fan of this book. Normally I don’t feel the need to actually like characters in books - I’ve enjoyed many a story where the main characters were terrible. Unfortunately, I found Emma, Julian (and Lena to some extent) absolutely unbearable.

The writing was technically good, but it felt very self aware and self conscious (not in a good way). I could feel the labor that went into every sentence. Sadly - this was not a good read for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

While this one did fall a little short for me, and i am not sure exactly why, it still kept my attention and was a quick, easy read. I never knew exactly where it was going to go next, and i liked that. Alot of times i can guess the resolutions, and that wasnt the case here for me. Everyone was pretty unlikable to me, but i feel like that may have also been part of the point. You find yourself wanting to like them, but you just cant. I also found some arguments and areas relatable, while others had me feeling that they were very unrealistic.

All in all, i think its a read everyone should try but it isnt going to be a hit across the board for all readers.

This wasn’t for me but I can see the appeal for others!
It was well written and engrossing but I didn’t like the characters so it made it hard to fully enjoy it.

Spicy ARC wasn’t actually spicy at all (which was a bit disappointing).

I misinterpreted what this book was to be about - it’s dramatic! It keeps you asking, “well, what’s going to happen now?!” Which is something I don’t like doing.

I thought this was going to be more fun than it was, but I can see people who like drama/cliff hangers liking this.

Thanks to The Digital Press for the ARC!

2.5 stars

3.25 stars

Well, this is a book that absolutely lives up to its title. These folks? Their relationships, lives, and outcomes are in ruins (and happening with ruins as a backdrop, as an added bonus).

Julian and Emma have experienced some recent upheaval, and this has caused them both to question the kind of life they thought they wanted to have with each other. As they negotiate their challenges and changes, they enter into a space of, um, exploration that fundamentally and permanently changes them.

This is not an uplifter, but it is thought provoking. It also gets a litte heavy handed in its darkness. The book we keep getting references to in their summer stay? Oh, it's the famously lighthearted tale of Medea. IYKYK.

While I found the actual plot points predictable, I did enjoy the way the characters responded to them. I'm fascinated to see that this book is in development with starring roles already announced.

I enjoyed the plot of this book but found it rather predictable. That being said I still had a pleasant time reading it, I think there was a tad too much filler at times that did not give any more depth to the characters. I would still recommend this to readers that are looking for an interesting and quick read.

4.25 stars. I really really enjoyed this crazy adventure Emma and Julian go on in Greece. Escaping London for the summer to stay in a friend's apartment in Greece, Julian is supposed to be writing his thesis and Emma is just having fun. Enter Lena, a young girl up for anything. Lena enters their marriage at the request of Emma and what ensues is a dramatic book.

There was times when I wanted to scream at this husband and wife duo - but other times when I just couldn't believe what was happening. One thing in particular made me really mad but I can't disclose it here because no spoilers.

Suffice it to say that this book was a great quick read and I enjoyed it very much.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy Taylor and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5 stars rounded up-The blurb caught my eye and I thought ooh, interesting. I didn’t know what to expect going in though, romance, moral fiction, and while I got those, I also got a very large dose of thriller!!! The beginning of this is a tiny bit slow with lots of academic verbiage about what a great dissertation it is, we are all so smart. Then, the couple meets Lena and we are off to the races. Definitely some elements of surprise here, and a satisfying ending (though I could have seen it go in another direction too. Overall, really impressed with this book and the author. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc!